1
資治通鑑第213卷
Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 213
2
卷第二百一十三
Volume 213
3
【唐紀二十九】起柔兆攝提格，盡昭陽作噩，凡八年。
【Tang Records 29】 From Rouzhao Shetige through Zhaoyang Zuoe—eight years in all.
4
春，正月，癸未，更立契丹松漠王李邵固為廣化王，奚饒樂王李魯蘇為奉誠王。 以上從甥陳氏為東華公主，妻邵固； 以成安公主之女韋氏為東光公主，妻魯蘇。
In spring, the first month, on guiwei, the Khitan Prince of Songmo Li Shaogu was reinstalled as Prince of Guanghua, and the Xi Prince of Raole Li Lusu as Prince of Fengcheng. The emperor ennobled his senior nephew's wife, Lady Chen, as Princess Donghua and gave her to Shaogu in marriage; and he made the daughter of Princess Cheng'an, Lady Wei, Princess Dongguang and gave her to Lusu in marriage.
5
張說奏：「今之五禮，貞觀、顯慶兩曾修纂，前後頗有不同，其中或未折衷。 望與學士等討論古今，刪改施行。」 制從之。
Zhang Shuo submitted a memorial: "The present Five Rites were compiled twice, under Zhenguan and Xianqing, and the two versions differ in many places; some provisions may never have been harmonized. I ask permission to discuss them with the academicians, revise the text in light of antiquity and the present, and put a unified version into effect." The emperor approved the proposal.
6
邕州封陵獠梁大海等據賓、橫州反； 二月，己酉，遣內侍楊思勖發兵討之。
Liang Dahai of the Fengling Liao in Yongzhou and others seized Bin and Heng prefectures and rose in rebellion; in the second month, on jiyou, the emperor sent the palace attendant Yang Sixu at the head of an army to suppress them.
7
上召河南尹崔隱甫，欲用之，中書令張說薄其無文，奏擬金吾大將軍； 前殿中監崔日知素與說善，說薦為御史大夫； 上不從。 丙辰，以日知為左羽林大將軍，丁巳，以隱甫為御史大夫。 隱甫由是與說有隙。
The emperor summoned Cui Yinpu, Intendant of Henan, intending to promote him, but Chief Minister Zhang Shuo, who thought him uncultivated, proposed instead that he be made General of the Golden Guard; the former Director of the Palace Secretariat Cui Rizhi was an old friend of Shuo's, and Shuo recommended him for Censor-in-Chief; the emperor refused. On bingchen Cui Rizhi was appointed Left General of the Feathered Forest; on dingsi Cui Yinpu was made Censor-in-Chief. From this Yinpu and Shuo were at odds.
8
說有才智而好賄，百官白事有不合者，好面折之，至於叱罵。 惡御史中丞宇文融之為人，且患其權重，融所建白，多抑之。 中書舍人張九齡言於說曰：「宇文融承恩用事，辯給多權數，不可不備。」 說曰：「鼠輩何能為！」 夏，四月，壬子，隱甫、融及御史中丞李林甫共奏彈說「引術士占星，徇私僭侈，受納賄賂。」 敕源乾曜及刑部尚書韋抗、大理少卿明珪與隱甫等同於御史台鞫之。 林甫，叔良之曾孫； 抗，安石之從父兄子也。
Shuo was clever but greedy for bribes; when an official's report displeased him, he would openly humiliate him, sometimes shouting him down. He disliked Vice Censor-in-Chief Yuwen Rong personally and resented his influence; most of Rong's proposals he blocked. Zhongshu Sheren Zhang Jiuling told Shuo, "Yuwen Rong enjoys the emperor's favor and is in power; he is quick-tongued and full of schemes—you cannot be too careful." Shuo replied, "What can vermin like that do!" In summer, the fourth month, on renzi, Yinpu, Rong, and Vice Censor-in-Chief Li Linfu jointly impeached Shuo, charging that "he employed occultists to practice astrology, showed favoritism and lived beyond his rank, and took bribes." The emperor ordered Yuan Qianyao, Minister of Justice Wei Kang, Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Ming Gui, and Yinpu and the rest to try the case together at the Censorate. Linfu was a great-grandson of Li Shuliang; Kang was a cousin of Wei Anshi on his father's side.
9
丁巳，以戶部侍郎李元紘為中書侍郎、同平章事。 元紘以清儉著，故上用為相。
On dingsi Li Yuanhong, Vice Minister of Revenue, was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat and Associate Chief Minister. Yuanhong was famed for integrity and frugality, which was why the emperor made him a chief minister.
10
源乾曜等鞫張說，事頗有狀，上使高力士視說，力士還奏：「說蓬首垢面，席蒿，食以瓦器，惶懼待罪。」 上意憐之。 力士因言說有功於國，上以為然。 庚申，但罷說中書令，餘如故。
Yuan Qianyao and the others tried Zhang Shuo, and the charges largely held; the emperor sent Gao Lishi to see him. Lishi reported back, "Shuo's hair is unkempt and his face dirty; he sleeps on straw and eats from pottery bowls, terrified and waiting to be punished." The emperor was moved to pity. Lishi added that Shuo had served the state well, and the emperor thought this true. On gengshen the emperor merely removed Shuo from the post of Chief Minister; his other offices were left unchanged.
11
丁卯，太子太傅岐王范薨，贈謚惠文太子。 上為之撤膳累旬，百官上表固請，然後復常。
On dingmao the Prince of Qi, Fan, who was Grand Tutor to the Heir Apparent, died and was posthumously honored as Prince Huiwen. The emperor went without regular meals for many days in mourning; only after officials repeatedly memorialized did he resume his normal diet.
12
丁亥，太原尹張孝嵩奏：「有李子嶠者，自稱皇子，雲生於潞州，母曰趙妃。」 上命杖殺之。
On dinghai Zhang Xiaosong, Intendant of Taiyuan, reported that "a man named Li Ziqiao claims to be an imperial prince, saying he was born in Luzhou and that his mother was Consort Zhao." The emperor ordered him beaten to death.
13
辛丑，於定、恆、莫、易、滄五州置軍以備突厥。
On xinchou garrisons were set up in Ding, Heng, Mo, Yi, and Cang prefectures to guard against the Turks.
14
上欲以武惠妃為皇后，或上言：「武氏乃不戴天之仇，豈可以為國母！ 人間盛言張說欲取立後之功，更圖入相之計。 且太子非惠妃所生，惠妃復自有子，若登宸極，太子必危。」 上乃止。 然宮中禮秩，一如皇后。
The emperor wished to make Consort Wu Huifei empress, but someone warned him, "The Wu are your family's mortal enemies—how can a Wu become empress and mother of the realm! Rumor had it that Zhang Shuo hoped to win credit by helping install her and then regain the chief ministership. Besides, the crown prince is not her son, and she has sons of her own; if she becomes empress, the heir will be in grave danger." The emperor dropped the plan. Within the palace, however, she was treated with the ceremonial standing of an empress.
15
五月，癸卯，戶部奏今歲戶七百六萬九千五百六十五，口四千一百四十一萬九千七百一十二。
In the fifth month, on guimao, the Ministry of Revenue reported 7,069,565 households and a population of 41,419,712 for the year.
16
秋，七月，河南、北大水，溺死者以千計。
In autumn, the seventh month, Henan and Hebei were struck by severe flooding; thousands drowned.
17
八月，丙午朔，魏州言河溢。
On the first day of the eighth month, bingwu, Weizhou reported that the Yellow River had burst its banks.
18
九月，己丑，以安西副大都護、磧西節度使杜暹同平章事。 自王孝傑克復四鎮，復於龜茲置安西都護府，以唐兵三萬戍之，百姓苦其役； 為都護者，惟田揚名、郭元振、張嵩及暹皆有善政，為人所稱。
In the ninth month, on jichou, Du Xian, Vice Protector-General of Anxi and Military Commissioner of Qixi, was appointed Associate Chief Minister. After Wang Xiaojie recovered the Four Garrisons, the Anxi Protectorate was re-established at Kucha and garrisoned with thirty thousand Tang troops; the people groaned under the burden of service; among the protectors-general, only Tian Yangming, Guo Yuanzhen, Zhang Song, and Xian governed well and won public praise.
19
冬，十月，庚申，上幸汝州廣成湯； 己酉，還宮。
In winter, the tenth month, on gengshen, the emperor visited the Guangcheng hot springs in Ruzhou; on jiyou he returned to the palace.
20
十二月，丁巳，上幸壽安，獵於方秀川； 壬戌，還宮。
In the twelfth month, on dingsi, the emperor went to Shou'an and hunted on the Fangxiu River; on renxu he returned to the palace.
21
楊思勖討反獠，生擒梁大海等三千餘人，斬首二萬級而還。
Yang Sixu put down the rebel Liao, captured Liang Dahai and more than three thousand others alive, took twenty thousand heads, and returned.
22
是歲，黑水靺鞨遣使入見，上以其國內黑水州，仍為置長史以鎮之。
That year the Heishui Mohe sent envoys to court; because their territory lay within Heishui Circuit, the emperor also appointed a chief administrator to oversee them.
23
勃海靺鞨王武藝曰：「黑水入唐，道由我境。 往者請吐屯於突厥，先告我與我偕行； 今不告我而請吏於唐，是必與唐合謀，欲腹背攻我也。」 遣其母弟門藝與其舅任雅將兵擊黑水。 門藝嘗為質子於唐，諫曰：「黑水請吏於唐，而我以其故擊之，是叛唐也。 唐，大國也。 昔高麗全盛之時，強兵三十餘萬，不遵唐命，掃地無遺。 況我兵不及高麗什之一二，一旦與唐為怨，此亡國之勢也。」 武藝不從，強遣之。 門藝至境上，復以書力諫。 武藝怒，遣其從兄大壹夏代之將兵，召，欲殺之。 門藝棄眾，間道來奔，制以為左驍衛將軍。 武藝遣使上表罪狀門藝，請殺之。 上密遣門藝詣安西； 留其使者，別遣報雲已流門藝於嶺南。 武藝知之，上表稱：「大國當示人以信，豈得為此欺誑？」 固請殺門藝。 上以鴻臚少卿李道邃、源復不能督察官屬，致有漏洩，皆坐左遷。 暫遣門藝詣嶺南以報之。
Wuyi, king of the Bohai Mohe, said, "The Heishui reach Tang only by a road through my lands. When they once asked the Turks for Tutan, they told me first and we went together; now they ask Tang for officials without telling me—they must be plotting with Tang to strike me from both sides." He sent his younger uterine brother Men Yi and his maternal uncle Ren Ya to attack the Heishui with an army. Men Yi had once been a hostage at the Tang court and objected, "The Heishui asked Tang for officials; if we attack them for that, we rebel against Tang. Tang is a great power. When Goguryeo was at its height it fielded more than three hundred thousand men, yet defying Tang it was utterly destroyed. Our forces are not even a tenth or a twentieth of theirs; if we make an enemy of Tang overnight, that is the path to national ruin." Wuyi refused to listen and sent him anyway. At the frontier Men Yi wrote again, urging him strongly to desist. Wuyi flew into a rage, sent his elder clansman Dayi to take command in his place, summoned Men Yi back, and meant to kill him. Men Yi abandoned his army, slipped away by a hidden path to surrender, and was appointed Left General of the Valiant Cavalry Guard. Wuyi sent envoys memorializing Men Yi's crimes and demanding his execution. The emperor secretly sent Men Yi to Anxi; detained Wuyi's envoys and sent a separate reply saying Men Yi had been exiled to Lingnan. When Wuyi found out, he memorialized, "A great state should show good faith to the world—how can you deceive us like this?" He again demanded Men Yi's death. The emperor blamed Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial Li Daosui and Yuan Fu for failing to control their staff and allowing the secret to leak; both were demoted. Men Yi was briefly sent toward Lingnan so the court could report this to Wuyi.
24
臣光曰：王者所以服四夷，威信而已。 門藝以忠獲罪，自歸天子。 天子當察其枉直，賞門藝而罰武藝，為政之體也。 縱不能討，猶當正以門藝之無罪告之。 今明皇威不能服武藝，恩不能庇門藝，顧效小人為欺誑之語，以取困於小國，乃罪鴻臚之漏洩，不亦可羞哉！
Sima Guang comments: A true king subdues the four barbarians by authority and good faith alone. Men Yi was punished for loyalty and came to surrender to the emperor. The emperor should weigh right and wrong, reward Men Yi and punish Wuyi—that is how government ought to work. Even if he could not punish Wuyi, he should at least have told him plainly that Men Yi was innocent. Yet Emperor Ming's might could not cow Wuyi, nor his favor protect Men Yi; he stooped to petty deceit and was put in the wrong by a small kingdom, then blamed the Court of State Ceremonial for the leak—how shameful!
25
杜暹為安西都護，突騎施金河公主遣牙官以馬千匹詣安西互市。 使者宣公主教，暹怒曰：「阿史那女何得宣教於我？」 杖其使者，留不遣； 馬經雪死盡。 突騎施可汗蘇祿大怒，發兵寇四鎮。 會暹入朝，趙頤貞代為安西都護，嬰城自守； 四鎮人畜儲積，皆為蘇祿所掠，安西僅存。 既而蘇祿聞暹入相，稍引退，尋遣使入貢。
While Du Xian was Protector-General of Anxi, the Turgesh Jinhe Princess sent an officer with a thousand horses to trade at Anxi. The envoy announced the princess's orders; Xian flew into a rage: "What right has an Ashina woman to give me orders?" He had the envoy beaten and detained; the horses died in the snow to the last one. Turgesh Qaghan Suolu was furious and marched against the Four Garrisons. When Xian went to court, Zhao Yizhen took over as Protector-General of Anxi and held the cities under siege; Suolu looted the people, livestock, and stores of the Four Garrisons; only Anxi itself barely held on. When Suolu learned Xian had become chief minister, he gradually withdrew and soon sent envoys with tribute.
26
春，正月，辛丑，涼州都督王君𡙟破吐蕃於青海之西。
In spring, the first month, on xinchou, Wang Jun, Military Governor of Liangzhou, defeated the Tibetans west of Qinghai Lake.
27
初，吐蕃自恃其強，致書用敵國禮，辭指悖慢，上意常怒之。 返自東封，張說言於上曰：「吐蕃無禮，誠宜誅夷，但連兵十餘年，甘、涼、河、鄯、不勝其弊，雖師屢捷，所得不償所亡。 聞其悔過求和，願聽其款服，以紓邊人。」 上曰：「俟吾與王君𡙟議之。」 說退，謂源乾曜曰：「君𡙟勇而無謀，常思僥倖，若二國和親，何以為功！ 吾言必不用矣。」 及君𡙟入朝，果請深入討之。
Earlier the Tibetans, confident in their power, had addressed the court as an equal power in insulting terms, and the emperor was often furious. After returning from the eastern feng and shan rites, Zhang Shuo told the emperor, "The Tibetans deserve punishment, but war has dragged on for more than ten years; Gan, Liang, He, and Shan cannot endure the strain. Though we often win battles, the gains do not cover the losses. I hear they now repent and seek peace; let us accept their submission and give the border people relief." The emperor said, "Let me discuss it with Wang Jun first." When Shuo withdrew he told Yuan Qianyao, "Jun is brave but rash and always chasing lucky breaks; if Tang and Tibet make peace, how will he win glory! My advice will never be taken." When Jun came to court, he duly asked for a deep punitive campaign.
28
去冬，吐蕃大將悉諾邏寇大斗谷，進攻甘州，焚掠而去。 君𡙟度其兵疲，勒兵躡其後。 會大雪，虜凍死者甚眾，自積石軍西歸。 君𡙟先遣人間道入虜境，燒道旁草。 悉諾邏至大非川，欲休士馬，而野草皆盡，馬死過半。 君𡙟與秦州都督張景順追之，及於青海之西，乘冰而度。 悉諾邏已去，破其後軍，獲其輜重羊馬萬計而還。 君𡙟以功遷左羽林大將軍，拜其父壽為少府監致仕。 上由是益事邊功。
The previous winter the Tibetan general Xinuo-luo raided Dadou Valley, pressed on to Ganzhou, burned and looted, and withdrew. Jun judged the enemy exhausted and led his troops in pursuit. Heavy snow fell; many of the Tibetans froze to death as they retreated west from Jishi. Jun had already sent men by hidden paths into Tibetan territory to burn the grass along their line of march. When Xinuo-luo reached the Dafei River and tried to rest men and horses, the pasture was gone and more than half his horses perished. Jun and Zhang Jingshun, Military Governor of Qinzhou, pursued them to the west of Qinghai and crossed on the ice. Xinuo-luo had already fled; they routed his rearguard, captured vast baggage, sheep, and horses, and returned. For this feat Jun was promoted to Left General of the Feathered Forest, and his father Shou was appointed Director of the Palace Workshops with permission to retire. From this the emperor devoted himself all the more to frontier glory.
29
初，洛陽人劉宗器上言，請塞汜水舊汴口，更於熒澤引河入汴； 擢宗器為左衛率府冑曹。 至是，新渠填塞不通，貶宗器為循州安懷戍主。 命將作大匠范安及發河南、懷、鄭、汴、滑、衛三萬人疏舊渠，旬日而畢。
Earlier a Luoyan named Liu Zongqi had memorialized asking to close the old Bian intake at Sishui and divert the Yellow River into the Bian Canal from Ying Marsh instead; Zongqi was promoted to a post in the Left Guards Commandant's Office. By now the new channel had silted shut; Zongqi was demoted to command the Anhuai garrison in Xunzhou. The emperor ordered Master of Works Fan Anji to mobilize thirty thousand laborers from six circuits to dredge the old canal; the work was finished in ten days.
30
御史大夫崔隱甫、中丞宇文融，恐右丞相張說復用，數奏毀之，各為朋黨。 上惡之，二月，乙巳，制說致仕，隱甫免官侍母，融出為魏州刺史。
Censor-in-Chief Cui Yinpu and Vice Censor-in-Chief Yuwen Rong, fearing Zhang Shuo's return to power, repeatedly denounced him in memorials and each built a faction. The emperor loathed this; in the second month, on yisi, he ordered Shuo to retire, let Yinpu leave office to care for his mother, and sent Rong out as prefect of Weizhou.
31
乙卯，制：「諸州逃戶，先經勸農使括定按比後復有逃來者，隨到准白丁例輸當年租庸，有征役得先差。」
“On yimao an edict declared that fugitive households who returned after earlier registration must pay that year's taxes and corvée on the usual adult-male scale and could be drafted first for military service.”1
32
夏，五月，癸酉，上悉以諸子慶王潭等領州牧、刺史、都督、節度大使、大都護、經略使，實不出外。
In summer, the fifth month, on guiyou, the emperor gave all his sons—including Prince Qing Tan—nominal posts as prefects, military governors, commissioners, and frontier protectors, though none actually left court.
33
初，太宗愛晉王，不使出閣； 豫王亦以武後少子不出閣，及自皇嗣為相王，始出閣。 中宗之世，譙王以失愛，謫居外州； 溫王年十七，猶居禁中。 上即位，附苑城為十王宅，以居皇子，宦官押之，就夾城參起居，自是不復出閣； 雖開府置官屬及領籓鎮，惟侍讀時入授書，自餘王府官屬，但歲時通名起居； 其籓鎮官屬，亦不通名。 及諸孫浸多，不置百孫院。 太子亦不居東宮，常在乘輿所幸之別院。
In the beginning Emperor Taizong loved the Prince of Jin and kept him from leaving the inner palace; the Prince of Yu, as Empress Wu's youngest son, likewise stayed inside until he left the heir's position to become Prince of Xiang. Under Emperor Zhongzong the Prince of Qiao, having fallen from favor, was banished to an outer prefecture; the Prince of Wen at seventeen still lived inside the palace. When the present emperor came to the throne he built the Ten Princes' Residence in the park city for his sons; eunuchs guarded them, and they greeted the emperor through a walled passage—after that they never left the compound again; though they had nominal offices and frontier commands, only tutors entered to teach them; other princely staff merely sent seasonal greetings; their frontier staffs did not even send greetings. As grandsons grew numerous, no separate residence was set up for them. The crown prince too did not live in the Eastern Palace but stayed in whatever lodge the emperor favored.
34
上命妃嬪以下宮中育蠶，欲使之知女功。 丁酉，夏至，賜貴近絲，人一綟。
The emperor ordered palace women down to the consorts to raise silkworms, so they would learn women's crafts. On dingyou, the summer solstice, the emperor gave silk to his close attendants, one bundle each.
35
秋，七月，戊寅，冀州河溢。
In autumn, the seventh month, on wuyin, the Yellow River flooded Jizhou.
36
己卯，禮部尚書許文憲公蘇頲薨。
On jimao Su Ting, Duke of Xuwenxian and Minister of Rites, died.
37
九月，丙子，吐蕃大將悉諾邏恭祿及燭龍莽布支攻陷瓜州，執刺史田元獻及河西節度使王君𡙟之父，進攻玉門軍； 縱所虜僧伽歸涼州，謂君𡙟曰：「將軍常以忠通許國，何不一戰！」 君𡙟登城西望而泣，竟不敢不兵。 莽布支別攻常樂縣，縣令賈師順帥眾拒守。 及瓜州陷，悉諾邏悉兵會攻之。 旬餘日，吐蕃力盡，不能克，使人說降之； 不從。 吐蕃曰：「明府既不降，宜斂城中財相贈，吾當退。」 師順請脫士卒衣； 悉諾邏知無財，乃引去，毀瓜州城。 師順遽開門，收器械，修守備； 虜果復遣精騎還，視城中，知有備，乃去。 師順，岐州人也。
In the ninth month, on bingzi, Tibetan generals Xinuo-luo Gonglu and Zhulong Mangbuzhi took Guazhou, captured Prefect Tian Yuanxian and Wang Jun's father, and pressed on against Yumen Army; They sent a captured monk to Liangzhou to tell Jun, "You always boast loyalty to the throne—why not fight?" Jun climbed the west wall, looked out, and wept; in the end he did not dare march out to fight. Mangbuzhi separately attacked Changle County; Magistrate Jia Shishun led the defense. After Guazhou fell, Xinuo-luo concentrated his forces against it. After more than ten days the Tibetans were exhausted and could not take the city; they sent envoys to offer terms; Jia refused. The Tibetans said, "If you will not surrender, gather the city's wealth as a gift and we will withdraw." Shishun asked only that the soldiers' clothes be taken; Seeing there was no wealth, Xinuo-luo withdrew and destroyed the walls of Guazhou. Shishun at once opened the gates, gathered arms, and repaired the defenses; the Tibetans did send elite cavalry back, but seeing the city ready, they left. Shishun was from Qizhou.
38
初，突厥默啜之強也，迫奪鐵勒之地，故回紇、契苾、思結、渾四部度磧徙居甘、涼之間以避之。 王君𡙟微時，往來四部，為其所輕； 及為河西節度使，以法繩之。 四部恥怨，密遣使詣東都自訴。 君𡙟遽發驛奏「四部難制，潛有叛計。」 上遣中使往察之，諸部竟不得直。 於是瀚海大都督回紇承宗流瀼州，渾大德流吉州，賀蘭都督契苾承明流籐州，盧山都督思結歸國流瓊州； 以回紇伏帝難為瀚海大都督。 己卯，貶右散騎常侍李令問為撫州別駕，坐其子與承宗交遊故也。
When the Turk qaghan Mo-ch'o was at his height he seized Tiele lands, so the Uighurs, Qibi, Sijie, and Hun crossed the desert and settled between Gan and Liang to escape him. In his youth Wang Jun had dealings with the four tribes and was despised by them; when he became Hexi commissioner he held them strictly to the law. Humiliated and angry, the four tribes secretly sent envoys to the eastern capital to complain. Jun at once sent an urgent memorial: "The four tribes are ungovernable and secretly plot rebellion." The emperor sent a palace envoy to investigate, but the tribes never got a fair hearing. Chengzong of the Uighurs was banished to Rangzhou, Dadé of the Hun to Jizhou, Chengming of the Qibi to Tengzhou, and Guiguo of the Sijie to Qiongzhou; Fudinan of the Uighurs was appointed Grand Protector-General of Hanhai. On jimao Li Lingwen, Right Regular Attendant, was demoted to vice-prefect of Fuzhou because his son had befriended Chengzong.
39
丙戌，突厥毘伽可汗遣其大臣梅祿啜入貢。 吐蕃之寇瓜州也，遺毘伽書，欲與之俱入寇，毘伽並獻其書。 上嘉之，聽於西受降城為互市，每歲繼縑帛數十萬匹就市戎馬，以助軍旅，且為監牧之種，由是國馬益壯焉。
On bingxu the Turk Qaghan Bilge sent his minister Meiluochuo with tribute. When Tibet attacked Guazhou it had written Bilge proposing a joint invasion; Bilge handed over the letter with his tribute. The emperor commended him and allowed trade at West Surrender City; each year hundreds of thousands of bolts of silk were sent to buy horses for the armies and imperial studs, and from this the state's horses grew stronger.
40
閏月，庚子，吐蕃贊普與突騎施蘇祿圍安西城，安西副大都護趙頤貞擊破之。 回紇承宗族子瀚海司馬護輸，糾合黨眾為承宗報仇。 會吐蕃遣使間道詣突厥，王君𡙟帥精騎邀之於肅州。 還，至甘州南鞏筆驛，護輸伏兵突起，奪君𡙟旌節，先殺其判官宋貞，剖其心曰：「始謀者汝也。」 君𡙟帥左右數十人力戰，自朝至晡，左右盡死。 護輸殺君𡙟，載其屍奔吐蕃； 涼州兵追及之，護輸棄屍而走。
In the intercalary month, on gengzi, the Tibetan emperor and Turgesh Suolu besieged Anxi; Vice Protector-General Zhao Yizhen routed them. Hushu, a kinsman of Chengzong and major in the Hanhai command, rallied supporters to avenge him. Tibet had sent envoys by a secret route to the Turks; Wang Jun led elite cavalry to intercept them at Suzhou. On the way back, at Gongbi Post south of Ganzhou, Hushu's ambush struck, seized Jun's credentials, and first killed his aide Song Zhen, cutting out his heart and crying, "You were the one who plotted this!" Jun fought on with a few dozen men from morning until afternoon until all his companions were dead. Hushu killed Jun, took his body, and fled toward Tibet; Liangzhou troops caught up; Hushu abandoned the body and escaped.
41
庚申，車駕發東都，冬，己卯，至西京。
On gengshen the court left the eastern capital; in winter, on jimao, it reached Chang'an.
42
辛巳，以左金吾衛大將軍信安王禕為朔方節度等副大使。 禕，恪之孫也。 以朔方節度使蕭嵩為河西節度等副大使。 時王君𡙟新敗，河、隴震駭。 嵩引刑部員外郎裴寬為判官，與君𡙟判官牛仙客俱掌軍政，人心浸安。 寬，漼之從弟也。 仙客本鶉觚小吏，以才幹軍功累遷至河西節度判官，為君𡙟腹心。
On xinsi Prince Xin'an Li Yi, Left General of the Golden Guard, was made deputy commissioner for Shuofang and related commands. Yi was a grandson of Li Ke. Shuofang commissioner Xiao Song was made deputy commissioner for Hexi and related commands. Wang Jun had just been killed and the He and Long frontier was in shock. Song took Pei Kuan of the Ministry of Justice as his aide; together with Jun's former aide Niu Xianke they ran military affairs, and morale slowly steadied. Kuan was a younger cousin of Li Chui. Xianke had begun as a minor clerk in Gaogu and rose through talent and battlefield merit to Hexi aide; he had been Jun's closest confidant.
43
嵩又奏以建康軍使河北張守珪為瓜州刺史，帥餘眾築故城。 板干裁立，吐蕃猝至，城中相顧失色，莫有鬥志。 守珪曰：「彼眾我寡，人瘡痍之餘，不可以矢刃相持，當以奇計取勝。」 乃於城上置酒作樂。 虜疑其有備，不敢攻而退。 守珪縱兵擊之，虜敗走。 守珪乃修復城市，收合流散，皆復舊業。 朝廷嘉其功，以瓜州為都督府，以守珪為都督。 悉諾邏威名甚盛，蕭嵩縱反間於吐蕃，雲與中國通謀，贊普召而誅之； 吐蕃由是少衰。
Song also recommended Zhang Shougui of Hebei, commander of Jiankang Army, as prefect of Guazhou to rebuild the old city with the survivors. The timbers had barely been raised when Tibetans appeared; the garrison looked at one another in dismay and none would fight. Shougui said, "They outnumber us and our men are exhausted—we cannot fight them head-on; we must win by stratagem." He had wine set out on the walls and music played. The Tibetans suspected a trap, dared not attack, and withdrew. Shougui then sallied forth and routed them. He rebuilt the city, gathered the displaced, and restored their livelihoods. The court praised his feat, made Guazhou a protectorate, and appointed Shougui its protector-general. Xinuo-luo's renown was great; Xiao Song spread word in Tibet that he was plotting with China; the tsenpo summoned and executed him; Tibetan power waned somewhat from this.
44
十二月，戊寅，制以吐蕃為邊患，令隴右道及諸軍團兵五萬六千人，河西道及諸軍團兵四萬人，又征關中兵萬人集臨洮，朔方兵二萬人集會州防秋，至冬初，無寇而罷； 伺虜入寇，互出兵腹背擊之。
In the twelfth month, on wuyin, an edict ordered fifty-six thousand Longyou troops, forty thousand Hexi troops, ten thousand Guanzhong men to Lintao, and twenty thousand Shuofang men to Huizhou for autumn defense against Tibet; if no enemy appeared by early winter, they were sent home; when the enemy invaded, columns were to strike them from front and rear.
45
乙亥，上幸驪山溫泉； 丙戌，還宮。
On yihai the emperor visited the hot springs at Mount Li; on bingxu he returned to the palace.
46
春，正月，壬寅，安西副大都護趙頤貞敗吐蕃於曲子城。
In spring, the first month, on renyin, Vice Protector-General of Anxi Zhao Yizhen defeated the Tibetans at Quzi City.
47
甲寅，以魏州刺史宇文融為戶部侍郎兼魏州刺史，充河北道宣撫使。
On jiayin Yuwen Rong was made Vice Minister of Revenue while remaining prefect of Weizhou and was appointed pacification commissioner for Hebei.
48
乙卯，春、瀧等州獠陳行范、廣州獠馮璘、何游魯反，陷四十餘城。 行范稱帝，游魯稱定國大將軍，璘稱南越王，欲據嶺表； 命內侍楊思勖發桂州及嶺北近道兵討之。
On yimao the Liao chiefs Chen Xingfan, Feng Lin, and He Youlu rebelled in the south and seized more than forty cities. Xingfan declared himself emperor, Youlu took the title Grand General Who Settles the State, and Lin called himself King of Southern Yue, aiming to hold the Lingnan region; the emperor ordered the palace attendant Yang Sixu to raise troops from Guizhou and nearby districts to suppress them.
49
丙寅，以魏州刺史宇文融檢校汴州刺史，充河南北溝渠堤堰決九河使。 融請用《禹貢》九河故道開稻田，並回易陸運錢，官收其利； 興役不息，事多不就。
On bingyin Yuwen Rong was made acting prefect of Bianzhou and commissioner for Henan's rivers, canals, and dikes. Rong proposed reopening the Nine Rivers of the Yugong for rice fields and diverting land-transport funds for the state to profit; corvée never stopped, yet little was achieved.
50
二月，壬申，以尚書右丞相致仕張說兼集賢院學士。 說雖罷政事，專文史之任，朝廷每有大事，上常遣中使訪之。
In the second month, on renshen, retired Right Chief Minister Zhang Shuo was also made an academician of the Hall of Worthies. Though out of politics, he devoted himself to letters; on great occasions the emperor often sent envoys to ask his counsel.
51
壬辰，改擴騎為左右羽林軍飛騎。
On renchen the expanded cavalry were reorganized as the Flying Cavalry of the Left and Right Feathered Forest Armies.
52
秋，七月，吐蕃大將悉末郎寇瓜州，都督張守珪擊走之。 乙巳，河西節度使蕭嵩、隴右節度使張忠亮大破吐蕃於渴波谷； 忠亮追之，拔其大莫門城，擒獲甚眾，焚其駱駝橋而還。
In autumn, the seventh month, the Tibetan general Ximolang raided Guazhou; Protector-General Zhang Shougui repulsed him. On yisi Xiao Song of Hexi and Zhang Zhongliang of Longyou routed the Tibetans at Kebo Valley; Zhongliang pursued, took Damen, captured many prisoners, burned the Camel Bridge, and returned.
53
八月，乙巳，特進張說上《開元大衍歷》，行之。
In the eighth month, on yisi Zhang Shuo presented the Kaiyuan Dayan Calendar, and it was adopted.
54
辛卯，右金吾將軍杜賓客破吐蕃於祁連城下。 時吐蕃復入寇，蕭嵩遣賓客將強弩四千擊之。 戰自辰至暮，吐蕃大潰，獲其大將一人； 虜散走投山，哭聲四合。
On xinmao Du Binke, Right General of the Golden Guard, defeated the Tibetans below Qilian City. Tibet had invaded again; Xiao Song sent Binke with four thousand crossbowmen against them. Fighting lasted from morning to evening; the Tibetans broke and one general was captured; the enemy fled into the hills in all directions, wailing on every side.
55
冬，十月，己卯，上幸驪山溫泉； 己丑，還宮。
In winter, the tenth month, on jimao, the emperor visited the hot springs at Mount Li; on jichou he returned to the palace.
56
十一月，癸巳，以河西節度副大使蕭嵩為兵部尚書、同平章事。
In the eleventh month, on guisi Hexi deputy commissioner Xiao Song was made Minister of War and Associate Chief Minister.
57
十二月，丙寅，敕：「長徵兵無有還期，人情難堪； 宜分五番，歲遣一番還家洗沐，五年酬勳五轉。」
In the twelfth month, on bingyin an edict declared, "Soldiers on long campaigns have no set date of return, and morale cannot endure it; Soldiers should serve in five rotations, with one rotation sent home each year to rest; after five years they would receive five merit promotions."2
58
是歲，制戶籍三歲一定，分為九等。
That year an edict required household registers to be reassessed every three years and ranked in nine grades.
59
楊思勖討陳行范，至瀧州，破之，擒何游魯、馮璘。 行范逃於雲際、盤遼二洞，思勖追捕，竟生擒，斬之，凡斬首六萬。 思勖為人嚴，偏裨白事者不敢仰視，故用兵所向有功。 然性忍酷，所得俘虜，或生剝面皮，或以刀剺髮際，掣去頭皮； 蠻夷憚之。
Yang Sixiu attacked Chen Xingfan, reached Long Prefecture, routed his forces, and captured He Youlu and Feng Lin. Xingfan fled to the Yunji and Panliao caves; Sixiu hunted him down, took him alive, executed him, and severed sixty thousand heads in all. Sixiu was a severe man; subordinate officers reporting to him dared not meet his gaze, and so his campaigns were consistently successful. But he was cruel by nature: captives were sometimes flayed alive, or a knife was run along the hairline to peel off the scalp; The southern tribes feared him.
60
春，二月，丁卯，巂州都督張守素破西南蠻，拔昆明及鹽城，殺獲萬人。
In spring, the second month, on dingmao, Zhang Shousu, military governor of Xi Prefecture, defeated the southwestern tribes, captured Kunming and Salt City, and killed or captured ten thousand men.
61
三月，瓜州都督張守珪、沙州刺史賈師順擊吐蕃大同軍，大破之。
In the third month, Zhang Shougui, governor of Gua Prefecture, and Jia Shishun, prefect of Sha Prefecture, attacked the Tibetan Datong Army and won a great victory.
62
甲寅，朔方節度使信安王禕攻吐蕃石堡城，拔之。 初，吐蕃陷石堡城，留兵據之，侵擾河右。 上命禕與河西、隴右同議攻取。 諸將鹹以為石堡據險而道遠，攻之不克，將無以自還，且宜按兵觀釁。 禕不聽，引兵深入，急攻拔之，仍分兵據守要害，令虜不得前。 自是河隴諸軍游弈，拓境千餘里。 上聞，大悅，更命石堡城曰振武軍。
On jiayin, the Prince of Xin'an Yi, military commissioner of Shuofang, attacked the Tibetan stronghold of Stone Fortress City and captured it. Earlier the Tibetans had seized Stone Fortress City, garrisoned it, and raided the Hexi region. The emperor ordered Yi to consult with the Hexi and Longyou commands on a joint assault. The generals all argued that Stone Fortress was strong and distant, that failure would leave them no retreat, and that they should hold their forces and wait for an opportunity. Yi refused to listen, marched deep into enemy territory, stormed and captured the fortress, then deployed garrisons at key positions to block the Tibetans' advance. From then on Hexi and Longyou forces patrolled the frontier and expanded the border by more than a thousand li. Greatly pleased at the news, the emperor renamed Stone Fortress City the Zhenwu Army garrison.
63
丙辰，國子祭酒楊瑒言，以為：「省司奏限天下明經、進士及第，每年不過百人。 竊見流外出身，每歲二千餘人，而明經、進士不能居其什一，則是服勤道業之士不如胥史之得仕也。 臣恐儒風浸墜，廉恥日衰。 若以出身人太多，則應諸色裁損，不應獨抑明經、進士也。」 又奏「主司貼試明經，不務求述作本指，專取難知，問以孤經絕句或年月日； 請自今並貼平文。」 上甚然之。
On bingchen, Yang Yan, chancellor of the Directorate of Education, argued: "Provincial offices have proposed capping Mingjing and Jinshi graduates empire-wide at no more than one hundred per year. Yet more than two thousand entrants from administrative exile appointment each year far exceed Mingjing and Jinshi combined — meaning scholars devoted to learning fare worse than petty clerks in winning office. I fear Confucian standards will erode and public morals will decay. If there are too many appointees, quotas should be cut across all routes — not only for Mingjing and Jinshi." He also submitted that Mingjing examiners ignored the purpose of classical exposition and instead tested obscure trivia — isolated sentences, recondite passages, or calendar dates; He asked that hereafter only ordinary passages be used in the attached test. "The emperor strongly agreed.
64
夏，四月，庚午，禘於太廟。 唐初，祫則序昭穆，禘則各祀於其室。 至是，太常少卿韋縚等奏：「如此，禘與常饗不異； 請禘祫皆序昭穆。」 從之。 綏，安石之兄子也。
In summer, the fourth month, on gengwu, the di rite was held at the Grand Ancestral Temple. Early in the Tang, the xia rite ranked ancestors by zhao and mu sequence, while the di rite sacrificed to each in its own shrine chamber. At this point Vice Minister of Rites Wei Tao and others argued: "Under this practice the di rite would be no different from regular offerings; we ask that both di and xia rites follow zhao-mu ordering." The request was granted. Sima Guang comments: Sui was the nephew of Wei Anshi.
65
五月，壬辰，復置十道及京、都兩畿按察使。
In the fifth month, on renchen, inspection commissioners for the ten circuits and the two metropolitan regions around the capitals were restored.
66
初，張說、張嘉貞、李元紘、杜暹相繼為相用事，源乾曜以清謹自守，常讓事於說等，唯諾署名而已。 元紘、暹議事多異同，遂有隙，更相奏列。 上不悅，六月，甲戌，貶黃門侍郎、同平章事杜暹荊州長史，中書侍郎、同平章事李元紘曹州刺史，罷乾曜兼侍中，止為左丞相； 以戶部侍郎宇文融為黃門侍郎，兵部侍部裴光庭為中書侍郎，並同平章事； 蕭嵩兼中書令，遙領河西。
Previously Zhang Yue, Zhang Jiazhen, Li Yuanhong, and Du Xian had held real power in succession; Yuan Qianyao, cautious and discreet, usually deferred to them and merely signed his name in assent. Yuanhong and Xian frequently clashed in policy debates, grew estranged, and repeatedly denounced each other. Displeased, the emperor in the sixth month, on jiaxu, demoted Du Xian from vice minister and grand councillor to chief administrator of Jing Prefecture, and Li Yuanhong to prefect of Cao Prefecture; Qianyao lost his concurrent post as Palace Secretary and remained only as Left Chancellor; Yuwen Rong was promoted from vice minister of revenue to vice minister of the Yellow Gate, and Pei Guangting from vice minister of war to vice minister of the Secretariat — both as grand councillors; Xiao Song was also made director of the Secretariat with nominal command over Hexi.
67
開府王毛仲與龍武將軍葛福順為婚。 毛仲為上所信任，言無不從，故北門諸將多附之，進退唯其指使。 吏部侍郎齊澣乘間言於上曰：「福順典禁兵，不宜與毛仲為婚。 毛仲小人，寵過則生奸； 不早為之，恐成後患。」 上悅曰：「知卿忠誠，朕徐思其宜。」 澣曰：「君不密則失臣，願陛下密之。」 會大理丞麻察坐事左遷興州別駕，澣素與察善，出城餞之，因道禁中諫語； 察性輕險，遽奏之。 上怒，召澣責之曰：「卿疑朕不密，而以語麻察，詎為密邪？ 且察素無行，卿豈不知邪？」 澣頓首謝。 秋，七月，丁巳，下制：「澣、察交構將相，離間君臣，澣可高州良德丞，察可潯州皇化尉。」
Wang Maozhong, a kaifu noble, arranged a marriage alliance with Longwu General Ge Fushun. Maozhong enjoyed the emperor's full trust and always got his way, so Northern Gate generals clustered around him and careers rose or fell at his command. Seizing an opportunity, Vice Minister of Personnel Qi Huan told the emperor, "Fushun commands the palace guard and should not marry into Maozhong's family. Maozhong is a base favorite; too much favor breeds intrigue; if you do not act soon, I fear future trouble. The emperor, pleased, replied, "I know you are loyal; I will consider the proper course in time. Huan said, "If the ruler is not discreet he loses loyal ministers; I beg Your Majesty to keep this confidential. Soon Ma Cha of the censorate was demoted to vice-prefect of Xing Prefecture for an offense; Huan, an old friend, saw him off outside the city and let slip his private advice to the emperor; Ma Cha, frivolous and untrustworthy by nature, immediately reported it. The emperor angrily summoned Huan and rebuked him: "You feared I could not keep a secret, yet you told Ma Cha — was that discreet? And Ma Cha's character has always been poor — did you not know that? Huan kowtowed and begged forgiveness. In autumn, the seventh month, on dingsi, an edict declared that Huan and Cha had conspired against chancellors and generals and sowed discord between ruler and minister; Huan was demoted to assistant of Liangde in Gao Prefecture and Cha to district captain of Huanghua in Xun Prefecture.”3
68
八月，癸亥，上以生日宴百官於花萼樓下。 左丞相乾曜、右丞相說帥百官上表，請以每歲八月五日為千秋節，佈於天下，咸令宴樂。 尋又移社就千秋節。
In the eighth month, on guihai, the emperor hosted a birthday banquet for the officials below the Tower of Flowery Calyx. Left Chancellor Qianyao and Right Chancellor Yue led the officials in requesting that the fifth day of the eighth month be established as the Thousand-Autumn Festival, proclaimed empire-wide and marked with feasting and celebration. Soon afterward the She sacrifice was shifted to the Thousand-Autumn Festival as well.
69
庚辰，工部尚書張嘉貞薨。 嘉貞不營家產，有勸其市田宅者，嘉貞曰：「吾貴為將相，何憂寒餒！ 若其獲罪，雖有田宅，亦無所用。 比見朝士廣占良田，身沒之日，適足為無賴子弟酒色之資，吾不取之。」 聞者是之。
On gengchen, Minister of Works Zhang Jiazhen died. Jiazhen did not amass private wealth; when urged to buy land and property, he said, "As a chancellor and general, why should I fear want! If I were condemned for crime, property would do me no good anyway. I have seen too many officials hoard fine estates that, after their death, only feed dissolute heirs in wine and pleasure — I want no part of that. Those who heard praised him."
70
辛巳，敕以人間多盜鑄錢，始禁私賣銅鉛錫及以銅為器皿； 其採銅鉛錫者，官為市取。
On xinsi an edict noted widespread illegal coin casting and banned private sale of copper, lead, and tin and the manufacture of copper vessels; miners of copper, lead, and tin would sell their output to the government.
71
宇文融性精敏，應對辯給，以治財賦得幸於上，始文置諸使，競為聚斂，由是百官浸失其職而上心益侈，百姓皆怨苦之。 為人疏躁多言，好自矜伐，在相位，謂人曰：「使吾居此數月，則海內無事矣。」
Yuwen Rong was sharp, quick-witted, and eloquent; by handling finance he won the emperor's favor. He established revenue commissioners who competed to squeeze the country, officials gradually lost their proper roles, the emperor grew more extravagant, and the people groaned under the burden. He was reckless, volatile, and boastful; while chancellor he told people, "Give me a few months in this post and the empire will be at peace.4
72
信安王禕，以軍功有寵於上，融疾之。 禕入朝，融使御史李寅彈之，洩於所親。 禕聞之，先以白上。 明日，寅奏果入，上怒，九月，壬子，融坐貶汝州刺史，凡為相百日而罷。 是後言財利以取貴仕者，皆祖於融。
The Prince of Xin'an Yi enjoyed imperial favor for his military achievements, and Yuwen Rong resented him. When Yi came to court, Rong sent Censor Li Yin to impeach him, but the move leaked to Yi's friends. Learning of it, Yi reported the matter to the emperor first. The next day Li Yin's memorial arrived as expected; the emperor was furious; in the ninth month, on renzi, Rong was demoted to prefect of Ru Prefecture — he had served as chancellor barely a hundred days. Thereafter everyone who pursued wealth and power through fiscal office took Yuwen Rong as their model.
73
冬，十月，戊午朔，日有食之，不盡如鉤。
In winter, the tenth month, on the first day wuwu, there was a partial solar eclipse shaped like a hook.
74
宇文融既得罪，國用不足，上復思之，謂裴光庭等曰：「卿等皆言融之惡，朕既黜之矣，今國用不足，將若之何！ 卿等何在佐朕？」 光庭等懼不能對。 會有飛狀告融贓賄事，又貶平樂尉。 至嶺外歲餘，司農少卿蔣岑奏融在汴州隱沒官錢巨萬計，制窮治其事，融坐流巖州，道卒。
After Yuwen Rong's disgrace, revenues ran short; the emperor thought of him again and said to Pei Guangting and the others, "You all denounced Rong's faults and I removed him — yet now the treasury is empty. What am I to do? What use are you in helping me govern? Guangting and the others were afraid and had no answer. Soon an urgent denunciation charged Rong with bribery, and he was demoted again to district captain of Pingle. More than a year later in the far south, Vice Minister of Agriculture Jiang Cen reported that Rong had embezzled tens of thousands of official funds in Bian Prefecture; ordered fully investigated, Rong was exiled to Yan Prefecture and died en route."
75
十一月，辛卯，上行謁橋、定、獻、昭、乾五陵； 戊申，還宮； 赦天下，百姓今年地稅悉蠲其半。 十二月，辛酉，上幸新豐溫泉； 壬申，還宮。
In the eleventh month, on xinmao, the emperor visited the five imperial tombs: Qiao, Ding, Xian, Zhao, and Qian; on wushen he went back to the palace; he proclaimed a general amnesty and halved the year's land tax for all commoners. In the twelfth month, on xinyou, the emperor went to the hot springs at Xinfeng; on renshen he went back to the palace.
76
春，正月，辛卯，以裴光庭為侍中。
In spring, the first month, on xinmao, Pei Guangting was appointed Palace Secretary.
77
二月，癸酉，初令百官於春月旬休，選勝行樂，自宰相至員外郎，凡十二筵，各賜錢五千緡，上或御花萼樓邀其歸騎留飲，迭使起舞，盡歡而去。
In the second month, on guiyou, officials were first granted monthly spring holidays to enjoy scenic outings; from chancellors down to outside-service gentlemen, twelve parties in all received five thousand strings of cash each; the emperor sometimes watched from the Tower of Flowery Calyx and invited returning groups to stay for wine, calling for dances in turn until all departed in high spirits.
78
三月，丁酉，復給京官職田。
In the third month, on dingyou, official land allotments for capital officials were restored.
79
夏，四月，丁卯，築西京外郭，九旬而畢。
In summer, the fourth month, on dingmao, construction of the outer wall of the Western Capital was completed in ninety days.
80
乙丑，以裴光庭兼吏部尚書。 先是，選司注官，惟視其人之能否，或不次超遷，或老於下位，有出身二十餘年不得祿者； 又，州縣亦無等級，或自大入小，或初近後遠，皆無定制。 光庭始奏用循資格，各以罷官若干選而集，官高者選少，卑者選多，無問能否，選滿即注，限年躡級，毋得逾越，非負譴者，皆有升無降； 其庸愚沉滯者皆喜，謂之「聖書」，而才俊之士無不怨歎。 宋璟爭之不能得。 光庭又令流外行署亦過門下省審。
On yichou, Pei Guangting was also made minister of personnel. Previously appointments depended only on perceived ability: some rose out of turn, others languished in low posts for decades without ever drawing salary; nor were prefecture and district posts ranked consistently — some moved from large to small jurisdictions, others from nearby to distant posts, with no fixed rule. Guangting introduced the seniority system: officials would be ranked by accumulated waiting periods after leaving office — fewer cycles for higher ranks, more for lower ones — ability aside, appointment came when the wait was complete, promotion followed fixed year-in-grade rules with no skipping ahead, and except for the censured, advancement was automatic without demotion; Mediocre officials stuck in low posts rejoiced and called it the "Sagely Edict," while able men lamented it everywhere. Song Jing objected but could not stop it. Guangting also required temporary provincial appointees to be reviewed by the Secretariat.
81
五月，吐蕃遣使致書於境上求和。
In the fifth month, Tibet sent envoys to the frontier with a letter requesting peace.
82
初，契丹王李邵固遣可突干入貢，同平章事李元紘不禮焉。 左丞相張說謂人曰：「奚、契丹必叛。 可突干狡而很，專其國政久矣，人心附之。 今失其心，必不來矣。」 己酉，可突干弒邵固，帥其國人並脅奚眾叛降突厥，奚王李魯蘇及其妻韋氏、邵固妻陳氏皆來奔。 制幽州長史趙含章討之，又命中書舍人裴寬、給事中薛侃等於關內、河東、河南、北分道募勇士。 六月，丙子，以單于大都護忠王浚領河北道行軍元帥，以御史大夫李朝隱、京兆尹裴胄先副之，帥十八總管以討奚、契丹。 命浚與百官相見於光順門。 張說退，謂學士孫逖、韋述曰：「吾嘗觀太宗畫像，雅類忠王，此社稷之福也。」 可突干寇平盧，先鋒使張掖烏承玼破之於捺祿山。
Earlier Khitan king Li Shaogu had sent Ketuqian to pay tribute, but Grand Councillor Li Yuanhong slighted him. Left Chancellor Zhang Yue said, "The Xi and Khitan will revolt. Ketuqian is crafty and fierce; he has controlled the kingdom for years and enjoys popular support. Having lost his goodwill, he will never return. On jiyou Ketuqian murdered Shaogu, rallied his people, forced the Xi to join him, and defected to the Turks; Xi king Li Lusu, his wife Lady Wei, and Shaogu's wife Lady Chen all fled to Tang. An edict ordered Zhao Hanzhang, chief administrator of You Prefecture, to suppress them, and sent Secretariat Drafter Pei Kuan, Supervising Secretary Xue Kan, and others to recruit warriors separately in Guannei, Hedong, Henan, and the north. In the sixth month, on bingzi, Prince Zhong Jun, grand protector of the Chanyu Protectorate, was named commander of the Hebei campaign army, with Censor-in-Chief Li Chaoyin and Jingzhao Prefect Pei Zhou as his deputies, leading eighteen area commanders against the Xi and Khitan. Prince Jun was presented to the officials at the Gate of Glorious Accord. Zhang Yue withdrew and told Academicians Sun Di and Wei Shu, "I once saw Emperor Taizong's portrait — Prince Zhong looks much like him; that is a blessing for the realm. Ketugan raided Pinglu, but Wu Chengchi of Zhangye, the vanguard commissioner, routed him at Mount Naluo."
83
壬午，洛水溢，溺東都千餘家。
On renwu, the Luo River burst its banks and submerged over a thousand homes in the Eastern Capital.
84
秋，九月，丁巳，以忠王浚兼河東道元帥，然竟不行。
In autumn, the ninth month, on dingsi, Prince Zhong Jun was also appointed commander of Hedong circuit—but he never actually went.
85
吐蕃兵數敗而懼，乃求和親。 忠王友皇甫惟明因奏事從容言和親之利。 上曰：「贊普嘗遺吾書悖慢，此何可捨！」 對曰：「贊普當開元之初，年尚幼稚，安能為此書！ 殆邊將詐為之，欲以激怒陛下耳。 夫邊境有事，則將吏得以因緣盜匿官物，妄述功狀以取勳爵。 此皆奸臣之利，非國家之福也。 兵連不解，日費千金，河西、隴右由茲困敝。 陛下誠命一使往視公主，因與贊普面相約結。 使之稽顙稱臣，永息邊患，豈非御夷狄之長策乎！」 上悅，命惟明與內侍張元方使於吐蕃。 贊普大喜，悉出貞觀以來所得敕書以示惟明。 冬，十月，遣其大臣論名悉獵隨惟明入貢，表稱：「甥世尚公主，義同一家。 中間張玄表等先興兵寇鈔，遂使二境交惡。 甥深識尊卑，安敢失禮！ 正為邊將交構，致獲罪於舅； 屢遣使者入朝，皆為邊將所遏。 今蒙遠降使臣，來視公主，甥不勝喜荷。 倘使復修舊好，死無所恨！」 自是吐蕃復款附。
After several defeats, the Tibetans grew alarmed and sued for a marriage alliance. Huangfu Weiming, Prince Zhong's companion, took occasion while presenting a memorial to speak calmly of the advantages of alliance through marriage. The emperor said, "The Tibetan king once sent me an insulting letter—how can we simply overlook that!" He replied, "At the beginning of Kaiyuan the Tibetan king was still a child—he could hardly have written such a letter! Frontier generals probably forged it, intending only to goad Your Majesty into anger. When the frontier is in turmoil, officers and officials seize the chance to pilfer government stores and invent battle reports to win honors and titles. Such gains accrue only to scheming officials—not to the nation's good. War dragged on without end, costing a thousand in gold each day, and Hexi and Longyou were worn down by it. If Your Majesty would send an envoy to visit the princess and there face the Tibetan king to renew pledges— —and bow before you as a vassal, ending the border threat forever, would that not be the wisest way to manage the northern tribes!" The emperor was delighted and sent Weiming with the eunuch Zhang Yuanfang as envoys to Tibet. The Tibetan king was overjoyed and produced every imperial edict received since the Zhenguan reign to show Weiming. In winter, the tenth month, he sent his minister Lun Mingxilie to accompany Weiming in tribute, writing: "Your nephew has long been married to the princess; we are kin as one household. In the meantime Zhang Xuanbiao and others took the offensive, raiding across the border until both realms became sworn enemies. Your nephew knows well his place in the hierarchy—how could he breach decorum! It was only because frontier generals stirred up trouble that I fell under my uncle's displeasure; Time and again I sent envoys to court, but frontier generals blocked them every time. Now that Your Majesty has graciously sent envoys from afar to visit the princess, your nephew is overcome with joy and gratitude. If we can restore our former friendship, I shall die without regret!" Thereafter Tibet renewed its loyal submission.
86
庚寅，上幸鳳泉湯； 癸卯，還京師。
On gengyin, the emperor traveled to the Fengquan hot springs; On guimao, he came back to the capital.
87
甲寅，護密王羅真檀入朝，留宿衛。
On jiayin, King Luozhentan of Humu came to court and was kept on as an imperial guard.
88
十一月，丁卯，上幸驪山溫泉； 丁丑，還宮。
In the eleventh month, on dingmao, the emperor went to the hot springs at Mount Li; On dingchou, he went back to the palace.
89
是歲，天下奏死罪止二十四人。
That year, capital sentences reported empire-wide numbered only twenty-four.
90
突騎施遣使入貢，上宴之於丹鳳樓，突厥使者預焉。 二使爭長，突厥曰：「突騎施小國，本突厥之臣，不可居我上。」 突騎施曰：「今日之宴，為我設也，我不可以居其下。」 上乃命設東、西幕，突厥在東，突騎施在西。
Turgesh sent envoys with tribute, and the emperor held a banquet for them at Danfeng Tower, with Turkic envoys also in attendance. The two delegations quarreled over precedence; the Turks said, "Turgesh is a petty realm, originally a Turkic vassal—it cannot sit above us." Turgesh replied, "Today's feast was held for us—we will not take a lower seat." The emperor then had two tents erected—Turks to the east, Turgesh to the west.
91
開府儀同三司、內外閒廄監牧都使霍國公王毛仲恃寵，驕恣日甚，上每優容之。 毛仲與左領軍大將軍葛福順、左監門將軍唐地文、左武衛將軍李守德、右威衛將軍王景耀、高廣濟親善，福順等倚其勢，多為不法。 毛仲求兵部尚書不得，怏怏形於辭色，上由是不悅。
Wang Maochong, Duke of Huo—Grandee of Splendid Happiness and chief of the imperial stud—grew ever more arrogant on imperial favor, yet the emperor indulged him at every turn. Maochong was close to Left Vanguard commander Ge Fushun, Left Gate Guard general Tang Diwen, Left Martial Guard general Li Shoude, Right Majestic Guard general Wang Jingyao, and Gao Guangji; Fushun and the others traded on his power and broke the law with impunity. Maochong asked for the post of Minister of War and was refused; his resentment showed plainly in speech and face, and the emperor took displeasure at it.
92
是時，上頗寵任宦官，往往為三品將軍，門施棨戟； 奉使過諸州，官吏奉之惟恐不及，所得賂遺，少者不減千緡； 由是京城第捨、郊畿田園，參半皆宦官矣。 楊思勖、高力士尤貴幸，思勖屢將兵征討，力士常居中侍衛。 而毛仲視宦官貴近者若無人； 甚卑品者，小忤意，輒詈辱如僮僕。 力士等皆害其寵而未敢言。
At this time the emperor favored eunuchs heavily, often promoting them to third-rank generals with ceremonial halberds displayed at their gates; On missions through the provinces, officials fawned on them for fear of giving offense, and the bribes they collected never fell below a thousand strings of cash; So that half the mansions in the capital and half the estates in the suburbs passed into eunuch hands. Yang Sixu and Gao Lishi were the most exalted among them—Sixu often led armies on campaign, while Lishi usually stayed at court as personal guard. Yet Maochong treated even the most powerful eunuchs as beneath notice; And if the lowliest among them gave the slightest offense, he would berate and humiliate them like household servants. Lishi and the others resented his favor but dared not speak out.
93
會毛仲妻產子，三日，上命力士賜之酒饌、金帛甚厚，且授其兒五品官。 力士還，上問：「毛仲喜乎？」 對曰：「毛仲抱其襁中兒示臣曰：『此兒豈不堪作三品邪！』」 上大怒曰：「昔誅韋氏，此賊心持兩端，朕不欲言之； 今日乃敢以赤子怨我！」 力士因言：「北門奴，官太盛，相與一心，不早除之，必生大患！」 上恐其黨驚懼為變。
When Maochong's wife gave birth, on the third day the emperor sent Lishi with lavish gifts of wine, food, gold, and silk—and granted the newborn a fifth-rank office. When Lishi returned, the emperor asked, "Was Maochong pleased?" He answered, "Maochong held up his swaddled infant and said to me, 'Surely this boy deserves a third-rank post!' The emperor flew into a rage. "When the Wei clan was destroyed, this villain hedged his loyalty—I held my tongue then; Now he dares flaunt his infant to show his resentment!" Lishi then said, "These North Gate slaves hold too much power and act as one bloc—unless they are cut down soon, they will bring great disaster!" The emperor feared that if their faction panicked, they might rise in revolt.
94
春，正月，壬戌，下制，但述毛仲不忠怨望，貶瀼州別駕，福順、地文、守德、景耀、廣濟皆貶遠州別駕，毛仲四子皆貶遠州參軍，連坐者數十人。 毛仲行至永州，追賜死。
In spring, the first month, on renxu, an edict was promulgated citing only Maochong's disloyalty and resentment—he was demoted to assistant prefect of Rang; Fushun, Diwen, Shoude, Jingyao, and Guangji were banished to distant prefectures as assistant prefects; Maochong's four sons were reduced to military adjutants in remote posts; dozens were implicated. Maochong had reached Yongzhou when an imperial messenger overtook him and ordered his execution.
95
自是宦官勢益盛。 高力士尤為上所寵信，嘗曰：「力士上直，吾寢則安。」 故力士多留禁中，稀至外第。 四方表奏，皆先呈力士，然後奏御； 事小者力士即決之，勢傾內外。 金吾大將軍程伯獻、少府監馮紹正與力士約為兄弟； 力士母麥氏卒，伯獻等被發受吊，擗踴哭泣，過於己親。 力士娶瀛州呂玄晤女為妻，擢玄晤為少卿，子弟皆王傅。 呂氏卒，朝野爭致祭，自第至墓，車馬不絕。 然力士小心恭恪，故上終親任之。
From then on eunuch power swelled still further. Gao Lishi enjoyed the emperor's special trust; the emperor once said, "When Lishi is on duty, I sleep soundly." Hence Lishi spent most of his time inside the palace and seldom visited his private residence. Petitions from across the realm were routed first to Lishi and only then forwarded to the emperor; Trivial matters Lishi decided on the spot—and his influence eclipsed court and government alike. Cavalry Guard commander Cheng Boxian and Court of Palace Supplies director Feng Shaozheng swore brotherhood with Lishi; And when Lishi's mother Lady Mai died, Boxian and the others came with hair unbound to mourn, wailing and beating their breasts more fervently than at their own parents' funerals. Lishi married the daughter of Lü Xuanwu of Yingzhou; Xuanwu was promoted to vice director, and his sons and nephews all became tutors to imperial princes. When Lady Lü died, officials and commoners competed to send offerings, and carriages jammed the road from her home to the grave. Yet Lishi remained discreet and deferential, and so the emperor continued to rely on him to the end.
96
辛未，遣鴻臚卿崔琳使於吐蕃。 琳，神慶之子也。 吐蕃使者稱公主求《毛詩》、《春秋》、《禮記》。 正字於休烈上疏，以為：「東平王漢之懿親，求《史記》、《諸子》，漢猶不與。 況吐蕃，國之寇仇，今資之以書，使知用兵權略，愈生變詐，非中國之利也。」 事下中書門下議之。 裴光庭等奏：「吐蕃聾昧頑嚚，久叛新服，因其有請，賜以《詩》、《書》，庶使之漸陶聲教，化流無外。 休烈徒知書有權略變詐之語，不知忠、信、禮、義，皆從書出也。」 上曰：「善！」 遂與之。 休烈，志寧之玄孫也。
On xinwei, the Minister of Ceremonies Cui Lin was sent as envoy to Tibet. Cui Lin was the son of Cui Shenqing. The Tibetan envoy reported that the princess had requested the Mao Odes, the Spring and Autumn Annals, and the Book of Rites. Yu Xiulie, a reviser in the Secretariat, memorialized: "When Prince Dongping, a close Han imperial relative, asked for the Records of the Grand Historian and the Masters texts, even Han refused. How much less should we arm Tibet, a sworn enemy of the realm, with books that teach the arts of war and stratagem—they will only grow more cunning and treacherous, to China's harm." The matter was referred to the Secretariat and Chancellery for discussion. Pei Guangting and others replied: "Tibet is stubborn and uncivilized—long rebellious, newly subdued. Since they ask, grant them the Odes and the Documents, that they may gradually absorb our culture until civilization reaches beyond our borders. Xiulie sees only the passages on stratagem and deceit, and fails to see that loyalty, faith, ritual, and righteousness—all come from those same books." The emperor said, "Well said!" The texts were duly granted. Yu Xiulie was the great-great-grandson of Yu Zhenning.
97
丙子，上躬耕於興慶宮側，盡三百步。
On bingzi, the emperor personally farmed beside Xingqing Palace, completing the full three hundred paces.
98
三月，突厥左賢王闕特勒卒，賜書吊之。
In the third month, the Turkic Left Wise Prince Qie Teller died, and the emperor sent a letter of condolence.
99
丙申，初令兩京諸州各置太公廟，以張良配饗，選古名將，以備十哲； 以二、八月上戊致祭，如孔子禮。
On bingshen, temples to the Grand Duke were established in both capitals and every prefecture for the first time, with Zhang Liang enshrined as his associate and ancient famous generals chosen to fill out the Ten Worthies; Sacrifices were scheduled for the first wu days of the second and eighth months, following the ritual pattern used for Confucius.
100
臣光曰：經緯天地之謂文，戡定禍亂之謂武。 自古不兼斯二者而稱聖人，未之有也。 故黃帝、堯、舜、禹、湯、文、武、伊尹、周公莫不有征伐之功，孔子雖不試，猶能兵萊夷，卻費人，曰：「吾戰則克」，豈孔子專文而太公專武乎？ 孔子所以祀於學者，禮有先聖先師故也。 自生民以來，未有如孔子者，豈太公得與之抗衡哉！ 古者有發，則命大司徒教士以車甲，臝股肱，決射御，受成獻馘，莫不在學。 所以然者，欲其先禮義而後勇力也。 君子有勇而無義為亂，小人有勇而無義為盜； 若專訓之以勇力而不使之知禮義，奚所不為矣！ 自孫、吳以降，皆為勇力相勝，狙詐相高，豈足以數於聖賢之門而謂之武哉！ 乃復誣引以偶十哲之目，為後世學者之師； 使太公有神，必羞與之同食矣！
Sima Guang comments: To array heaven and earth is called cultural virtue; to suppress chaos and restore order is called martial virtue. Never in history has anyone been called a sage who lacked both. The Yellow Emperor, Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, King Wen, King Wu, Yi Yin, and the Duke of Zhou all won victories in war; Confucius, though never given office, still subdued the Yi of Lai, drove back the people of Fei, and declared, "If I fight, I conquer"—was Confucius purely a man of culture and the Grand Duke purely a man of war? Confucius is honored in the academy because ritual tradition designates a First Sage and First Master. Since the dawn of humanity there has been no one like Confucius—how could the Grand Duke stand as his rival! In antiquity, when war was declared, the Grand Minister of Education trained scholars in chariots and armor, bared their limbs for drill, tested archery and charioteering, and received battle reports and severed ears—all within the academy. The aim was to instill ritual and righteousness before raw courage and brute strength. A gentleman with courage but no sense of right breeds rebellion; a commoner with courage but no sense of right becomes a bandit; Train men only in brute force without teaching them propriety, and there is no atrocity they will not commit! From Sun Tzu and Wu Qi onward, martial fame has rested on brute strength and cunning stratagem—what has that to do with the martial virtue of the sages! To drag such men into the Ten Worthies and set them up as models for future generations— If the Grand Duke's spirit were present, he would be ashamed to share the sacrificial feast with them!
101
五月，壬戌，初立五嶽真君祠。
In the fifth month, on renxu, temples to the True Lords of the Five Sacred Peaks were established for the first time.
102
秋，九月，辛未，吐蕃遣其相論尚它硉入見，請於赤嶺為互市； 許之。
In autumn, the ninth month, on xinwei, Tibet sent Chancellor Lun Shang Taliu to court, requesting a border market at Chiling; The request was approved.
103
冬，十月，丙申，上幸東都。
In winter, the tenth month, on bingshen, the emperor traveled to the Eastern Capital.
104
或告巂州都督解人張審素贓污，制遣監察御史楊汪按之。 總管董元禮將兵七百圍汪，殺告者，謂汪曰：「善奏審素則生，不然則死。」 會救兵至，擊斬之。 汪奏審素謀反，十二月，癸未，審素坐斬，籍沒其家。
Someone denounced Zhang Shenjie of Jie, military governor of Xi Prefecture, for corruption, and an edict sent Supervising Censor Yang Wang to investigate. Commandant Dong Yuanli marched seven hundred men to surround Wang, killed the informant, and told Wang, "File a favorable report on Shenjie and you live—otherwise you die." Relief troops arrived in time and killed Yuanli in the attack. Wang reported that Shenjie had plotted rebellion; in the twelfth month, on guiwei, Shenjie was beheaded and his property seized.
105
浚苑中洛水，六旬而罷。
The Luo River in the imperial park was dredged—a project that ran sixty days before it was halted.
106
春，正月，乙卯，以朔方節度副大使信安王禕為河東、河北行軍副大總管，將兵擊奚、契丹； 壬申，以戶部侍郎裴耀卿為副總管。 二月，癸酉朔，日有食之。
In spring, the first month, on yimao, Prince Xin'an Yi, deputy commissioner of Shuofang, was appointed deputy grand commander of the Hedong and Hebei field armies to lead troops against the Xi and Khitan; On renshen, Vice Minister of Revenue Pei Yaojing was appointed deputy commander. In the second month, at the guiyou new moon, there was a solar eclipse.
107
上思右驍衛將軍安金藏忠烈，三月，賜爵代國公，仍於東、西嶽立碑，以銘其功。 金藏竟以壽終。
Mindful of Right Valiant Cavalry General An Jincang's fearless loyalty, the emperor in the third month ennobled him as Duke of Dai and ordered steles raised on the Eastern and Western Sacred Peaks to commemorate his service. An Jincang lived out his years and died a natural death.
108
信安王禕帥裴耀卿及幽州節度使趙含章分道擊奚、契丹，含章與虜遇，虜望風遁去。 平盧先鋒將烏承禕言於含章曰：「二虜，劇賊也。 前日遁去，非畏我，乃誘我也，宜按兵以觀其變。」 含章不從，與虜戰於白山，果大敗。 承玼引兵出其右，擊虜，破之。 己巳，禕等大破奚、契丹，俘斬甚眾，可突干帥麾下遠遁，餘黨潛竄山谷。 奚酉李詩瑣高帥五千餘帳來降。 禕引兵還。 賜李詩爵歸義王，充歸義州都督，徒其部落置幽州境內。
Prince Xin'an Yi, commanding Pei Yaojing and Youzhou commissioner Zhao Hanzhang, attacked the Xi and Khitan on separate fronts; when Zhao Hanzhang met the enemy, they fled at the first sign of his approach. Pinglu vanguard Wu Chengyi warned Hanzhang: "These two peoples are ruthless foes. Their retreat the other day was not cowardice but bait; we should hold our troops back and watch how matters develop. Hanzhang ignored the advice, engaged the enemy at White Mountain, and was routed. Wu Chengyi swung his force around the enemy's right, attacked, and put them to flight. On jisi, Yi won a crushing victory over the Xi and Khitan, taking and killing a great multitude; Ketugan fled far away with his personal following while the rest scattered into the hills. Li Shisuogao, a Xi chieftain, submitted with more than five thousand tents. Yi withdrew his army. Li Shi was made Prince of Returning Allegiance, named commissioner of Guyi Prefecture, and his people were resettled within Youzhou."
109
夏，四月，乙亥，宴百官於上陽東洲，醉者賜以衾褥，肩輿以歸，相屬於路。
In summer, the fourth month, on yihai, the emperor entertained the whole court on the eastern islet of Shangyang Palace; officials who drank too much were given bedding and sent home in sedan chairs, a procession stretching along the road.
110
六月，丁丑，加信安王禕開府儀同三司。 上命裴耀卿繼絹二十萬匹分賜立功奚官，耀卿謂其徒曰：「戎狄貪婪，今繼重貨深入其境，不可不備。」 乃命先期而往，分道並進，一日，給之俱畢。 突厥、室韋果發兵邀隘道，欲掠之，比至，耀卿已還。
In the sixth month, on dingchou, Prince Xin'an Yi was granted the rank of Grand Generalissimo with ceremonial honors equal to the Three Excellencies. The emperor charged Pei Yaojing to deliver two hundred thousand bolts of silk as rewards for Xi officers who had distinguished themselves; Yaojing told his staff, "These tribes are rapacious; carrying such treasure deep into their lands demands every precaution. He sent the goods ahead on several routes at once and distributed the entire allotment in a single day. The Turks and Shiwei did marshal forces to ambush the mountain passes and seize the silk, but by the time they arrived Yaojing was already gone.
111
趙含章坐贓巨萬，杖於朝堂，流瀼州，道死。
Zhao Hanzhang was convicted of taking bribes worth tens of thousands of strings of cash; he was flogged in the imperial hall, banished to Rang Prefecture, and died en route.
112
秋，七月，蕭嵩奏：「自祠后土以來，屢獲豐年，宜因還京賽祠。」 上從之。
In autumn, the seventh month, Xiao Song urged: "Ever since the rites to the Earth Sovereign, harvests have repeatedly been abundant; we should offer a thanksgiving sacrifice when we return to the capital. The emperor agreed.
113
敕裴光庭、蕭嵩分押左、右廂兵。
The emperor ordered Pei Guangting and Xiao Song each to command the left and right palace guard divisions.
114
八月，辛未朔，日有食之。
In the eighth month, at the xinwei new moon, there was a solar eclipse.
115
初，上命張說與諸學士刊定五禮。 說薨，蕭嵩繼之。 起居舍人王仲丘請依《明慶禮》，祈谷、大雩、明堂，皆祀昊天上帝； 嵩又請依上元敕，父在為母齊衰三年。 皆從之。 以高祖配圜丘、方丘，太宗配雩祀及神州地祇，睿宗配明堂。 九月，乙巳，新禮成，上之，號曰《開元禮》。
Earlier, the emperor had charged Zhang Yue and the palace academicians with compiling the Five Rites. When Zhang Yue died, Xiao Song took over the project. Court diarist Wang Zhongqiu proposed adopting the Mingqing Rites so that the rites of Praying for Grain, the Great Yu, and the Bright Hall would all honor the Supreme Deity of Heaven; Xiao Song also asked that mourning rules follow the Shangyuan edict, requiring three years of hemp mourning for a mother while the father still lived. The emperor approved both proposals. Emperor Gaozu was made associate spirit at the Round and Square Altars; Emperor Taizong at the rain sacrifice and the altar of the land; Emperor Ruizong at the Bright Hall. In the ninth month, on yisi, the new code was finished, presented to the throne, and named the Kaiyuan Rites.
116
勃海靺鞨王武藝遣其將張文休帥海賊寇登州，殺刺史韋俊，上命右領軍將軍葛福順發兵討之。
Wuyi, king of Bohai Mohe, sent his general Zhang Wenxiu at the head of pirates to attack Deng Prefecture and kill its prefect Wei Jun; the emperor ordered Right Vanguard General Ge Fushun to lead a punitive expedition.
117
壬子，河西節度使牛仙客加六階。 初，蕭嵩在河西，委軍政於仙客； 仙客廉勤，善於其職。 嵩屢薦之，竟代嵩為節度使。
On renzi, Hexi commissioner Niu Xianke was promoted six grades. When Xiao Song held the Hexi command, he had entrusted civil and military affairs to Niu Xianke; Niu Xianke was honest and industrious and excelled in the role. Xiao Song recommended him again and again, and Niu Xianke eventually succeeded him as commissioner.
118
冬，十月，壬午，上發東都； 辛卯，幸潞州； 辛丑，至北都； 十一月，庚申，祀后土於汾陰，赦天下； 十二月，辛未，還西京。
In winter, the tenth month, on renwu, the emperor left Luoyang; On xinmao he traveled to Lu Prefecture; On xinchou he reached Taiyuan; In the eleventh month, on gengshen, he performed the rite to the Earth Sovereign at Fenyin and proclaimed a general amnesty; In the twelfth month, on xinwei, he returned to Chang'an.
119
是歲，以幽州節度使兼河北採訪處置使增領衛、相、洛、貝、冀、魏、深、趙、恆、定、邢、德、博、棣、營、鄚十六州及安東都護府。
That year the Youzhou commissioner, who also served as Hebei investigation commissioner, was given authority over sixteen prefectures—Wei, Xiang, Luo, Bei, Ji, Wei, Shen, Zhao, Heng, Ding, Xing, De, Bo, Di, Ying, and Mao—as well as the Protectorate General of Andong.
120
天下戶七百八十六萬一千二百三十六，口四千五百四十三萬一千二百六十五。
The empire registered 7,861,236 households and a population of 45,431,265.
121
春，正月，乙巳，祔肅明皇后於太廟，毀儀坤廟。
In spring, the first month, on yisi, Empress Sumei was given a place in the imperial ancestral temple and the separate Yikun shrine was abolished.
122
丁巳，上幸驪山溫泉。
On dingsi the emperor went to the hot springs at Mount Li.
123
上遣大門藝詣幽州發兵，以討勃海王武藝； 庚申，命太僕員外卿金思蘭使於新羅，發兵擊其南鄙。 會大雪丈餘，山路阻隘，士卒死者過半，無功而還。 武藝怨門藝不已，密遣客刺門藝於天津橋南，不死； 上命河南搜捕賊黨，盡殺之。
The emperor dispatched Dae Mun-ye to Youzhou to mobilize troops against Wuyi of Bohai; On gengshen he sent Vice Master of Horse Jin Silan to Silla to muster forces for an attack on Bohai's southern frontier. Snow piled more than ten feet deep, blocking the mountain passes; more than half the troops perished, and the expedition returned empty-handed. Wuyi nursed a deep grievance against Dae Mun-ye and secretly sent an agent to stab him south of the Tianjin Bridge, but Mun-ye survived; The emperor ordered Henan to hunt down the assassins and had them all executed.
124
二月，丁酉，金城公主請立碑於赤嶺以分唐與吐蕃之境； 許之。
In the second month, on dingyou, Princess Jincheng asked that a boundary stele be erected at Red Ridge to mark the border between Tang and Tibet; The request was approved.
125
三月，乙巳，侍中裴光庭薨。 太常博士孫琬議：「光庭用循資格，失勸獎之道，請謚曰克。」 其子稹訟之，上賜謚忠獻。
In the third month, on yisi, Chief Minister Pei Guangting died. Sun Wan of the Grand Sacrificial Office argued, "Guangting rose by seniority alone and forfeited the principle of rewarding merit; I propose the posthumous name Ke ['Overcoming']." His son Pei Zhen appealed; the emperor granted the posthumous name Loyal and Dedicated.
126
上問蕭嵩可以代光庭者。 嵩與右散騎常侍王丘善，將薦之； 丘聞之，固讓於右丞韓休。 嵩言休於上。 甲寅，以休為黃門侍郎、同平章事。
The emperor asked Xiao Song whom he could appoint to succeed Pei Guangting. Xiao Song was close to Right Palace Attendant Wang Qiu and meant to recommend him; When Wang Qiu learned of this, he steadfastly declined in favor of Vice Director Han Xiu. Xiao Song then presented Han Xiu to the emperor. On jiayin, Han Xiu was appointed Vice Minister of the Palace Secretariat and chief minister.
127
休為人峭直，不干榮利； 及為相，甚允時望。 始，嵩以休恬和，謂其易制，故引之。 及與共事，休守正不阿，嵩漸惡之。 宋璟歎曰：「不意韓休乃能如是！」 上或宮中宴樂及後苑遊獵，小有過差，輒謂左右曰：「韓休知否？」 言終，諫疏已至。 上嘗臨鏡默然不樂，左右曰：「韓休為相，陛下殊瘦於舊，何不逐之！」 上歎曰：「吾貌雖瘦，天下必肥。 蕭嵩奏事常順指，既退，吾寢不安。 韓休常力爭，既退，吾寢乃安。 吾用韓休，為社稷耳，非為身也。」
Han Xiu was stern and upright, indifferent to rank and gain; Once elevated to chief minister, he fully satisfied public expectations. Xiao Song had taken Xiu's mild manner for compliance and brought him in expecting an easy partner. Once they worked together, Han Xiu held to principle without yielding, and Xiao Song soon came to resent him. Song Jing exclaimed, "Who would have thought Han Xiu capable of this! Whenever the emperor indulged in palace revels or hunts in the imperial park, even in small lapses, he would turn to his attendants and ask, "Does Han Xiu know about this? Barely had he spoken when a memorial of remonstrance would arrive. Once, gazing in the mirror in silent displeasure, his attendants said, "Since Han Xiu became chief minister Your Majesty has grown noticeably thinner—why not dismiss him! The emperor sighed, "I may have grown thin, but the realm will prosper the more for it. When Xiao Song reported to me he always told me what I wished to hear; once he left I could not sleep easy. Han Xiu always argued his case firmly; when he withdrew I slept soundly. I keep Han Xiu in office for the sake of the state, not for my own comfort."5
128
有供奉侏儒名黃，性警黠。 上常憑之以行，謂之「肉幾」，寵賜甚厚。 一日晚入，上怪之。 對曰：「臣向入宮，道逢捕盜官與臣爭道，臣掀之墜馬，故晚。」 因下階叩頭。 上曰：「但使外無章奏，汝亦無憂。」 有頃，京兆奏其狀。 上即叱出，付有司杖殺之。
A dwarf named Huang served at court; he was quick-witted and sly. The emperor habitually leaned on him for support when walking, nicknamed him "Living Armrest," and showered him with gifts. One day he arrived late, and the emperor was puzzled. He answered, "On my way to the palace I ran into a constable who tried to push me aside; I knocked him off his horse, which is why I am late. He then descended the steps and kowtowed. The emperor said, "So long as no report reaches me from outside, you have nothing to fear. Moments later, the capital prefecture reported exactly what had happened. The emperor immediately had him driven out and handed over to the authorities to be beaten to death.
129
閏月，癸酉，幽州道副總管郭英傑與契丹戰於都山，敗死。 時節度使薛楚玉遣英傑將精騎一萬及降奚擊契丹，屯於榆關之外。 可突干引突厥之眾來合戰，奚持兩端，散走保險； 唐兵不利，英傑戰死。 餘眾六千餘人猶力戰不已，虜以英傑首示之，竟不降，盡為虜所殺。 楚玉，訥之弟也。
In the intercalary month, on guiyou, Youzhou deputy commander Guo Yingjie battled the Khitan at Mount Du, was defeated, and killed. Commissioner Xue Chuyu had sent Yingjie with ten thousand elite horsemen and allied Xi tribes against the Khitan, camped beyond Yuguan Pass. Ketugan brought Turkish forces to the fight while the Xi hedged their bets and melted away into the hills; The Tang force faltered and Yingjie fell in battle. More than six thousand survivors fought on; the enemy displayed Yingjie's head, yet they refused to yield and were slaughtered to the last man. Xue Chuyu was the younger brother of Xue Ne.
130
夏，六月，癸亥，制：「自今選人有才業操行，委吏部臨時擢用； 流外奏用不復引過門下。」 雖有此制，而有司以循資格便於己，猶踵行之。 是時，官自三師以下一萬七千六百八十六員，吏自佐史以上五萬七千四百一十六員，而入仕之塗甚多，不可勝紀。
In summer, the sixth month, on guihai, an edict declared, "Henceforth candidates distinguished for ability and character may be promoted at the Ministry of Personnel's discretion; appointees from outside the regular examination track need no longer be reviewed by the Chancellery. Despite the edict, officials continued the seniority system because it served their interests. At the time there were 17,686 official posts from the Three Preceptors down and 57,416 clerical posts from assistant secretary up, while routes into government service were so numerous they could not all be counted."
131
秋，七月，乙丑朔，日有食之。
In autumn, the seventh month, at the yichou new moon, there was a solar eclipse.
132
九月，壬午，立皇子沔為信王，泚為義王，漼為陳王，澄為豐王，潓為恆王，漎為梁王，滔為汴王。 關中久雨谷貴，上將幸東都，召京兆尹裴耀卿謀之，對曰：「關中帝業所興，當百代不易； 但以地狹谷少，故乘輿時幸東都以寬之。 臣聞貞觀、永徽之際，祿廩不多，歲漕關東一二十萬石，足以周贍，乘輿得以安居。 今用度浸廣，運數倍於前，猶不能給，故使陛下數冒寒暑以恤西人。 今若使司農租米悉輸東都，自都轉漕，稍實關中，苟關中有數年之儲，則不憂水旱矣。 且吳人不習河漕，所在停留，日月既久，遂生隱盜。 臣請於河口置倉，使吳船至彼即輸米而去，官自雇載分入河、洛。 又於三門東西各置一倉，至者貯納，水險則止，水通則下，或開山路，車運而過，則無復留滯，省費巨萬矣。 河、渭之濱，皆有漢、隋舊倉，葺之非難也。」 上深然其言。
In the ninth month, on renwu, the emperor ennobled his sons: Min as Prince of Xin, Ci as Prince of Yi, Cui as Prince of Chen, Cheng as Prince of Feng, Hui as Prince of Heng, Yong as Prince of Liang, and Tao as Prince of Bian. Prolonged rains had driven up grain prices in the Guanzhong region, and as the emperor prepared to move to Luoyang he summoned Pei Yaojing for counsel; Yaojing replied, "Guanzhong is the cradle of the dynasty and should remain the capital for ages to come; but its land is cramped and its harvests thin, so the court visits Luoyang from time to time to ease the strain. In the Zhenguan and Yonghui eras, I am told, government stores were modest; shipping one or two hundred thousand shi annually from east of the Pass was enough to sustain the capital, and the court could remain at home. Today expenses have swollen and shipments have multiplied several times over, yet supplies still fall short—forcing Your Majesty to journey back and forth through summer heat and winter cold for the sake of the western populace. If all rent grain were sent first to Luoyang and then forwarded to the capital, Guanzhong's stores could gradually be replenished; with several years' reserves there, drought and flood would cease to be a concern. Besides, southerners are unfamiliar with grain transport by river; long delays en route invite theft and embezzlement. I propose building granaries at the river mouth where southern boats would unload and depart at once, with the state hiring carriers to move the grain up the Yellow and Luo rivers. Granaries should also be built east and west of Sanmen Pass to receive shipments: when the water is treacherous, cargo can wait; when it runs clear, boats can proceed—or goods can be hauled overland through mountain roads—eliminating delays and saving vast expense. Along the Yellow and Wei rivers stand granaries from Han and Sui times that could easily be restored. The emperor was deeply persuaded."
133
冬，十月，庚戌，上幸驪山溫泉； 己未，還宮。
In winter, the tenth month, on gengxu, the emperor visited the hot springs at Mount Li; on jiwei he returned to the palace.
134
戊子，左丞相宋璟致仕，歸東都。
On wuzi Left Chief Minister Song Jing retired and returned to Luoyang.
135
韓休數與蕭嵩爭論於上前，面折嵩短，上頗不悅。 嵩因乞骸骨，上曰：「朕未厭卿，卿何為遽去！」 對曰：「臣蒙厚恩，待罪宰相，富貴已極，及陛下未厭臣，故臣得從容引去； 君已厭臣，臣首領且不保，安能自遂！」 因泣下。 上為之動容，曰：「卿且歸，朕徐思之。」 丁巳，嵩罷為左丞相，休罷為工部尚書。 以京兆尹裴耀卿為黃門侍郎，前中書侍郎張九齡時居母喪，起復中書侍郎，並同平章事。
Han Xiu often argued with Xiao Song before the emperor and openly criticized him; the emperor grew displeased. Song asked to retire; the emperor said, "I am not tired of you yet—why leave in such haste!" He answered, "I have enjoyed great favor and reached the peak of wealth as chief minister; while Your Majesty is not yet weary of me, I may still withdraw in peace; once a ruler tires of his minister, that minister cannot even keep his head—how could I do as I please!" and he burst into tears. The emperor was moved and said, "Go home for now; I will consider this carefully." On dingsi Song was demoted to Left Chief Minister and Han Xiu to Minister of Works. Pei Yaoqing, Intendant of Jingzhao, was made Vice Director of the Secretariat; Zhang Jiuling, recalled from mourning for his mother, was also made Vice Director; both became Associate Chief Ministers.
136
是歲，分天下為京畿、都畿、關內、河南、河東、河北、隴右、山南東道、山南西道、劍南、淮南、江南東道、江南四道、黔中、嶺南，凡十五道，各置採訪使，以六條檢察非法； 兩畿以中丞領之，餘皆擇賢刺史領之。 非官有遷免，則使無廢更。 惟變革舊章，乃須報可； 自餘聽便宜從事，先行後聞。
That year the empire was reorganized into fifteen circuits—from the capital districts through Lingnan—and each circuit received an investigating commissioner empowered under the six regulations to root out abuses; the two metropolitan districts were headed by vice censors-in-chief; elsewhere worthy prefects were chosen to lead them. commissioners were not replaced unless their nominal post changed. only changes to established rules required prior approval; otherwise they could act on their own authority and report afterward.
137
太府卿楊崇禮，政道之子也，在太府二十餘年，前後為太府者莫能及。 時承平日久，財貨山積，嘗經楊卿者，無不精美； 每歲句駁省便，出錢數百萬緡。 是歲，以戶部尚書致仕，年九十餘矣。 上問宰相：「崇禮諸子，誰能繼其父者？」 對曰：「崇禮三子，慎餘、慎矜、慎名，皆廉勤有才，而慎矜為優。」 上乃擢慎矜自汝陽令為監察御史，知太府出納，慎名攝監察御史，知含嘉倉出給，亦皆稱職； 上甚悅之。 慎矜奏諸州所輸布帛有漬污穿破者，皆下本州征折估錢，轉市輕貨，徵調始繁矣。
Grand Steward Yang Chongli, son of Zhengdao, served in that office for more than twenty years; none of his predecessors or successors matched him. Peace had lasted so long that wealth piled up like mountains; everything that passed through Yang's hands was impeccably managed; each year his audits saved the treasury millions of strings of cash. That year he retired as Minister of Revenue at over ninety. The emperor asked the chief ministers, "Which of Chongli's sons can succeed him?" They answered, "His three sons Shenyu, Shenjin, and Shenming are all capable and diligent, but Shenjin is the finest." The emperor promoted Shenjin from magistrate of Ruyang to investigating censor overseeing the Grand Steward's treasury, and made Shenming acting censor over the Hejia granary; both proved capable; the emperor was delighted. Shenjin proposed that stained or torn tribute cloth be charged back to the submitting prefecture at a discount, with the shortfall made up in light goods—and from this tax collection grew ever more burdensome.
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